Cross Country Hosts Alumni; Football Scrimmages

by Jim Amidon • August 26, 2006
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The largest alumni turnout in history made the 2006 Charlie Finch Memorial Alumni Cross Country Meet a huge success. The Finch Memorial marks the start of the season for the Red Pack — a Wabash cross country team with high hopes for a much improved season.

Click here to see photos from the event, now available as high resolution downloads.

The Wabash football team dodged rain showers on a hot and humid day for the annual Red vs. White Scrimmage. Click here to see photos from the scrimmage.

President Pat White was the ceremonial starter for the 2006 Charlie Finch Memorial event that included nearly 60 competitors, among them Dean of Admissions Steve Klein and professors Greg Redding and Brian Tucker. Deans Gary Phillips and Tom Bambrey were also on hand to cheer the Little Giants and returning alumni, who were honored at a picnic following the meet.

Former All-Conference performer Adam White ’98 was easily the most impressive competitor. White, who helped Wabash to a third place finish at the 1995 national championships, ran away from his former teammate Roger Busch to win the four-mile run.

"It's hard to run when you're crying," said White after the race as he remembered another former teammate, Jeremy Wright ’96, an Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan two years ago. The death of his own parents in a plane crash and Wright's tragic death inspired White to take up competitive racing again. The results of his training showed at the finish of the race when he clearly had enough energy to repeat the four-mile run.

Busch, assistant director of annual giving at Wabash and volunteer assistant cross country coach, ran to second place and finished about 100 meters behind White.

After Busch crossed the line, a sea of current Little Giants finished impressively, led by senior Dennis Frazee and Dustin Beck. Sam Compton-Craig, Geoff Lambert, Matt Maher, and Ben Bly all finished in strong fashion, in spite of what they called "a brutal workout Thursday."

The Red Pack's season continues next Saturday, September 2, when the Little Giants host the Wabash Hokum Karem at 10:30 a.m.